Sugar cane topper for v-cutter harvester

ABSTRACT

This disclosure is directed to a topping device for use with a V-cutter type sugar cane harvester in which the topping main frame unit is pivoted at its lead end to the lead end of the Vcutter and is provided with cane gathering means which present the cane stalks to topping discs which are effectively raised and lowered by a cylinder and ram mechanism connected between the topping main frame and the frame of the V-cutter harvester at a point rearwardly of the pivotal connection between the topping frame and harvester.

United States Patent 1 [151 3,705,481 Willett v 1 51 Dec. 12, 1972 1SUGAR CANE TOPPER FOR V-CUTTER 3,002,330 10/1961 Thomson ..56/ 13.7HARVESTER 3,307,338 3/1967 Mizzi... ..56/13.9 1,065 296 6/1913 Cozart..56/59 7 l 2 A Thbmjaux La 3,095,680 7/1963 Thornton ..56/13.7 [73]Assignee: Cane Machinery &. Engineering Company, Inc.', Thiboclaux, La.Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. N. Eskovitz [22]Mei Attorney-Wilkinson, Mawhinney & Theibault [21] Appl. No.: 101,919

[57] ABSTRACT 52 us. c1. ..56/13.9, 56/143, 56/63, This disclosure isdirected to a topping device for use 56/98 v with a V-cutter type sugarcane harvester in which the 51 1111. C1. 3.110111 45/10 topping mainframe is pivoted at its lead end to [58] Field 61 Search ..'....56/l37-139 143 the lead end of the cutter and is Pmvided with 56/145 53 5659 63 102 gathering means which present the cane stalks to topping discswhich are effectively raised and lowered by a cylinder and ram mechanismconnected between [56] Refereinces cued the topping main frame and theframe of the V-cutter UNITEDSTATES PATENTS harvester at a pointrearwardly of the pivotal conneca t f d h t 3,587,214 6/1971 Willett etal..; ..56/10.7 between-he P was I 3,144,743 8/1964 Gaunt et a1 "56/1436 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures -19 $1 47. 1 1 is I 1 1 2m 2E 21E --21 -z1o2 2W 3; 54 2w 2 ..z1

4s v 2 4 1| o P'ATENTEDBEM I912 3,705,481 SHEEI 10F 3 INVENTOR UMLLEHARQLD PATENTEDUEB12 1972 SHEET 3 [IF 3 INVENTOR Anna A. wLLE-n tarycutter is mounted at the base of each mold board proximate the mid pointfrom front to remand with the plane of cut being substantially at aright angle to the face of the mold'board with the plane of cut beingparallel -to'the ground surface over which the V-cutter is moved on amobile frame through a sugar cane field.

The present invention is an improved topping device for the V-cuttertype harvester which operates on two rows of cane simultaneously. v j

A further object of the present, invention is the provision of a topperwhich is pivoted to the apex area of the V -cutter for up and downmovement of its rear portion which carries the cane gathering chains androtary cutting toppers positioned rearwardly of and above the V-cutterearth severing cutting discs for topping c'ane stalks cut thereby.

A further object of the present invention is the arrangement of canegathering means above and in advance of the earth cutters to orient theupper portion of the cane stalks for presentation to the topping cutterdiscs after the stalks have been severed from the earth.

A still further object of the present invention is a topper for use witha V-cutter harvester the gathering and top cutting means of which may beregulated to permit the harvester to top only the upper portion of thecane stalk which the rate of maturity dictates should be cut and atopper which will operate on two rows of cane simultaneously.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be morefully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed outin the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or correspondingparts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the topper of the present inventionshown installed on a V-cutter harvester.

FIG. 2 is a topplan view of the topper of the present invention showninstalled on the V-cutter harvester of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the topper of FIGS. 1 and 2mounted on a V-cutter harvester.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the topping cutter and its drivingmotor.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the motor mount of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, designates a mobile frame such as atractor having a V-cutter harvester 11 mounted on its front end. Theharvester has a pair of vertically disposed mold boards 12 and 13 joinedat 14 to define the apex of a V and with the boards 12 and 13 divergingrearwardly as best seen in FIG. 2. A pair of hydraulically driven rotarycutters 15 and 16 are arranged, one in each leg of the V formed by moldboards 12 and 13 for cutting two rows of cane simultaneously as theV-shaped arrangement of mold boards are driven into the standing canefield like a wedge to open the cane and direct each standing row towardthe earth cutters 15 and 16. A conventional vertically disposed partingcutter 17 is mounted at the apex of the V-cutter harvester.

The primary frame '18 consists of a rectangular sub frame 19, 19A, 19Band 19C having a pair of truss tops 20 and 20A on each side of the sub,frame. Vertical support members 21, 21A- extend to form support carriersfor thesecondary gathering means supports 21B and 21C, the free ends ofwhich have secured thereto struts 21D and 21E which are secured to thesub frame 19. Depending from the rectangular sub frame 19 are verticalsupport members 21F and 21G which assist in supporting the primarygathering means. The members 21F on each side of the primary frame arejoined by spacer 22 while the members 21G are joined by spacer 23. Apivotal housing 24 is carried by the, free end of struts 25 for pivotingthe main frame to the apex area of the V-cutter harvester at 26. Thispivot 26 permits the primary frame to be raised and lowered in its reararea to raise or lower the topping means.

The primary cane gathering means comprises two support members 27 and 28which are upwardly inclined and outwardly divergent when viewed from thefront of the harvester. Endless chains 29 and 30 having cane gatheringprojections 31 extending therefrom are rooved about the supports 27, 28and these chains are driven by the hydraulic motors 32 which also drivethe topping disc cutters 33, 34 which define the topping means.

The secondary cane gathering means are two support members 35, 36secured to and supported by members 21D and 21E. Endless chains 37 and38 having cane engaging projections 39 are rooved about sprocketscarried by the members 35, 36 and are driven by hydraulic motors in aconventional manner. The support members 35, 36 have guide pipes 40at'their upper convergent ends which cooperate with the endless chains29 and 30 of the primary gathering means for directing the top of thecane stalks into cutting engagement with the topping disc cutters 33,34.

The raising and'lowering means comprises a cylinder 41 the free end ofwhich is pivotally connected to the primary frame at 42 while itsoperating ram 43 is connected to the V-cutter frame at 44. This cylinderand ram rock the primary frame about the pivot 26 to effectively raiseor lower the topping discs 33, 34 to regulate the amount of top to beremoved from the cane stalk. In operation as the harvester proceeds intothe cane field the mold boards 12 and 13 in their wedge likeconfiguration engage and raise the cane stalks so that the primarygathering chains direct the stalk to a substantially erect positionprior to being severed by the rotary cutters 15, 16. The secondarygathering chains cooperate to form a cane receiving throat 45 throughwhich the cane passes in the erect position to be conveyed rearwardlyand presented to the topping discs 33, 34 to have the appropriate amountof top removed. The harvester operator with the aid of a hydrauliccontrol valve actuates the cylinder and ram 41 and 43 which causes themain frame 18 to rock about pivot 26 to regulate the length of cut fromthe top of the stalk as field conditions dictate.

What is claimed is:

1. For use with a V-cutter having a V-shaped mold board with at leastone rotary cutter in each leg of the V for cutting rows of standing canestalks, which V- cutter is mounted on a mobile frame for moving samethrough a field of standing cane, a cane topper comprising a primaryframe pivoted at its leading end proximate the apex of the V-cutter tothe V-cutter, primary cane gathering means carried by said primary frameand positioned to direct the cane upwardly and outwardly from the apexof the V-cutter, secondary cane gathering means carried by said primaryframe and arranged to converge toward said primary gathering means toform a throat over the cane cutter in each leg of the V-cutter, toppingmeans proximate the upper free end of each primary gathering means forcutting off the top of the cane stalks, and means connected between saidprimary frame and V-cutter rearwardly of the pivot to raise and lowerthe topping means relative to the V-cutter.

2. A cane topper as claimed in claim 1 wherein the primary frame is ofarched construction to permit passage of two rows of cane therethrough.

3. A cane topper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said primary canegathering means are endless chains having finger like projections forengaging cane stalks.

4. A cane topper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said secondary canegathering means are endless chains upwardly inclined convergently andpositioned to converge with the primary cane gathering means to form aconveyor to direct the cut cane stalks to the topping means.

5. A cane topper as claimed in claim 1 wherein the topping means arehydraulically driven rotary cutting discs.

6. A cane topper as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for raising andlowering the topping means is a hydraulic cylinder and ram, the ram ofwhich is connected to the V-cutter and the cylinder free end of which ispivotally connected to the primary frame forwardly of the topping means.

1. For use with a V-cutter having a V-shaped mold board with at lEastone rotary cutter in each leg of the V for cutting rows of standing canestalks, which V-cutter is mounted on a mobile frame for moving samethrough a field of standing cane, a cane topper comprising a primaryframe pivoted at its leading end proximate the apex of the V-cutter tothe V-cutter, primary cane gathering means carried by said primary frameand positioned to direct the cane upwardly and outwardly from the apexof the V-cutter, secondary cane gathering means carried by said primaryframe and arranged to converge toward said primary gathering means toform a throat over the cane cutter in each leg of the V-cutter, toppingmeans proximate the upper free end of each primary gathering means forcutting off the top of the cane stalks, and means connected between saidprimary frame and V-cutter rearwardly of the pivot to raise and lowerthe topping means relative to the V-cutter.
 2. A cane topper as claimedin claim 1 wherein the primary frame is of arched construction to permitpassage of two rows of cane therethrough.
 3. A cane topper as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said primary cane gathering means are endless chainshaving finger like projections for engaging cane stalks.
 4. A canetopper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said secondary cane gathering meansare endless chains upwardly inclined convergently and positioned toconverge with the primary cane gathering means to form a conveyor todirect the cut cane stalks to the topping means.
 5. A cane topper asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the topping means are hydraulically drivenrotary cutting discs.
 6. A cane topper as claimed in claim 1 wherein themeans for raising and lowering the topping means is a hydraulic cylinderand ram, the ram of which is connected to the V-cutter and the cylinderfree end of which is pivotally connected to the primary frame forwardlyof the topping means.